Air

Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

Topic Subtitle
Tracking the latest agency and congressional debates over rules to cut emissions of traditional pollutants, and a broad range of novel EPA policies including the agency's shift to a "multipollutant" regulatory approach for individual sectors.

STATES EYE EPA TALKS TO BOOST SUPPORT FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS

State and local air regulators are planning to meet with EPA policymakers next month to discuss ways to boost support for vehicle inspection/maintenance (I/M) programs, which have been increasingly targeted by Midwestern state legislators because of the politically unpopular requirement for vehicle owners to test -- and possibly repair -- their automobiles' emissions systems. "We have been seeking support from EPA on a national basis to reaffirm the importance of I/M and to fend off attacks," says a state official...

CARPER TO CUT MERCURY TRADING FROM UPCOMING UTILITY EMISSIONS BILL

Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) will prohibit any emissions credit trading for utilities to meet strict mercury pollution limits in legislation he intends to reintroduce soon, which will also contain revised targets and timetables for mercury and other pollutants, according to a source in Carper's office. Carper, lead sponsor of a legislative alternative to the Bush administration's Clear Skies proposal, will propose to mandate 90 percent mercury reductions from power plants by 2015, and prohibit any cap-and-trade program that would allow...

Despite Limited Push, DOD Likely To Continue Introducing Exemptions Bill

Despite the military's limited bid to win passage of proposed exemptions to environmental rules in upcoming defense authorization legislation, the Defense Department is expected to continue introducing legislation in future years because it wants to maintain the appearance that the legislation is necessary, a House source says. The House Armed Services readiness subcommittee April 27 declined to include DOD's controversial package of exemptions to environmental rules in the fiscal year 2007 defense bill, a development that the panel's chairman, Rep...

Boehlert Vows To Seek House Vote To Boost Fuel Economy Rules

Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), the retiring chairman of the House Science Committee, is vowing to seek a vote on the House floor later this year on a measure tightening fuel economy rules, predicting that the measure will pass as part of a package of energy legislation intended to address high gas prices. Boehlert made the comments April 26 at a media breakfast where he noted that members are telling him privately that they would change their earlier votes and support...

Activists Fail To Convince Chafee To Oppose EPA Air Chief's Nomination

Environmental groups have failed in their last-minute lobbying of Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) to oppose the nomination of William Wehrum to head EPA's air office, after Chafee joined the majority in a 10-8 Senate environment committee vote approving the nominee. The Senate Environment & Public Works Committee (EPW) approved Wehrum's nomination April 26 in a party-line vote, despite lobbying by the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters and others to convince the senator to oppose the nomination, a move...

Industry Group Seeks Credit For Oil Projects In State Climate Plan

An oil and gas industry group will urge Northeast states implementing a regional climate initiative to recognize carbon dioxide (CO2) injection during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects as an activity that generates emissions credits toward power plant emissions reduction obligations -- an effort that industry sources say could be influenced by a parallel debate occurring at the international level. The push to recognize CO2 injection during EOR comes in the wake of a draft model rule for implementing the Northeast's...

Mercury Ruling May Bolster Broad Efforts To Force FOIA Disclosures

A recent court ruling requiring EPA to turn over computer modeling for its mercury emissions rule could bolster industry and government watchdog efforts under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to seek information on federal agency decisionmaking and could prompt industry to intervene against EPA if the agency appeals the decision. Agency officials declined to speculate on possibilities for appealing the ruling, but a source with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the group would consider intervening in court in...

Activists Lobby Sen. Chafee To Block EPA Air Chief In Environment Panel

On the eve of a Senate environment committee vote on William Wehrum to head EPA's air office, environmental groups are actively lobbying Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) to vote against the nomination to produce a 9-9 tie in the committee that would prevent Wehrum's nomination from getting to the floor. If environmentalists succeed, it could further undermine Wehrum's nomination, which Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH) has already said would likely have to be secured with a recess appointment from President Bush because...

EPA Bolsters State Bill Blocking Pennsylvania Mercury Rule

An EPA official is slated to testify this week in favor of Pennsylvania legislation blocking the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from adopting a landmark rule setting mercury emission control standards stricter than EPA's, which some environmentalists have said could also threaten EPA's controversial mercury trading program. Robert Wayland, an official in EPA's Office of Air Quality Planning & Standards (OAQPS), is scheduled to testify April 25 at a widely anticipated hearing in favor of Senate Bill 1202, which...

Report Urges Development Of Gasification Technology For Western Coal

A new report from an environmental policy group says Western officials must take aggressive steps to encourage development of coal gasification technology capable of using the region's coal, or risk subjecting the West's coal industry to a long-term decline as climate change and other environmental concerns force future carbon dioxide (CO2) regulations and other rules that could favor Eastern coal supplies. The report calls for commitments that would go beyond a recent agreement between California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and...

Advisory Panel Weighs Air Act Changes Setting New Pollution Control Levels

An EPA advisory panel may recommend major changes to the Clean Air Act that would require minimum levels of pollution control at all emission sources nationwide, known as "reasonable performance levels," out of concern that existing controls vary depending on the location of industrial sources and how recently they were built. The new approach, which the panel is discussing in draft form, could enhance controls on a diverse array of sources, including industrial boilers, manufacturers of consumer products and trucks...

STATES EYE PERMIT STREAMLINING TO COPE WITH EPA'S FY07 BUDGET CUTS

Facing shrinking budgets because of proposed EPA state and local grant funding cuts, state environmental officials are looking for innovative ways to streamline their air, water and waste permits to free up resources, several state officials say. An official from Iowa, one of the states pursuing these efforts, says permit streamlining is "going to become one of the major undertakings most states will have to address in the coming years as budgets shrink and the public demands more accountability." The...

EPA REBUFFS REGION'S REQUEST FOR NEW COMMENT PROCESS ON RULES

EPA headquarters is declining to change its process for accepting comments from its 10 regional offices on draft rules and guidance, despite a recent request from Region IX that the agency do so given claims that it may not have incorporated regional input when drafting a controversial rule revamping air toxics requirements. "Why would we change?" an agency spokeswoman says. "Every indication is that candid assessments are welcomed." EPA Region IX has raised concerns that agency headquarters did not adequately...

WASTE INDUSTRY RIPS CAL/EPA GHG EMISSIONS DATA, FEARING CRACKDOWN

Representatives of major California waste management companies are criticizing the final report of the California EPA-led Climate Action Team (CAT), claiming assertions that landfills are large sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have not been adequately explained and appear to be based on questionable data. The industry fears the CAT report may lead to new crackdowns on GHG emissions from solid waste facilities, which may be targeted in state legislation later this year. The CAT report essentially groups the state's...

EPA Rebuffs Region's Request For New Comment Process On Rules

EPA headquarters is declining to change its process for accepting comments from its 10 regional offices on draft rules and guidance, despite a recent request from Region IX that the agency do so given claims that it may not have incorporated regional input when drafting a controversial rule revamping air toxics requirements. "Why would we change?" an agency spokeswoman says. "Every indication is that candid assessments are welcomed." EPA Region IX has raised concerns that agency headquarters did not adequately...

U.S. Call For Stricter International Ship Emission Rules Sparks Debate

Federal agencies are calling for more stringent diesel emissions cuts from ships than under an international treaty that is awaiting U.S. ratification, and they are also saying they can set more strict domestic standards if necessary. The push has ignited a debate among environmentalists and industry groups, who both support stricter emissions standards than under the current treaty but disagree on how restrictive future standards should be. The executive branch has drafted Senate legislation obtained by Inside EPA to implement...

INDUSTRY GROUP SEEKS CREDIT FOR OIL PROJECTS IN STATE CLIMATE PLAN

An oil and gas industry group will urge Northeast states implementing a regional climate initiative to recognize carbon dioxide (CO2) injection during enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects as an activity that generates emissions credits toward power plant emissions reduction obligations -- an effort that industry sources say could be influenced by a parallel debate occurring at the international level. The push to recognize CO2 injection during EOR comes in the wake of a draft model rule for implementing the Northeast's...

MERCURY RULING MAY BOLSTER BROAD EFFORTS TO FORCE FOIA DISCLOSURES

A recent court ruling requiring EPA to turn over computer modeling for its mercury emissions rule could bolster industry and government watchdog efforts under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to seek information on federal agency decisionmaking and could prompt industry to intervene against EPA if the agency appeals the decision. Agency officials declined to speculate on possibilities for appealing the ruling, but a source with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce says the group would consider intervening in court in...

ACTIVISTS SAY ABSENCE OF CAL/EPA SECRETARY HURTS PROGRAMS

Environmentalists charge that the continuing vacancy at the Cal/EPA secretary's position is hurting key programs, including efforts to ensure pollution from future infrastructure expansion is mitigated and new policies seeking greenhouse gas emission reductions are implemented. They also fired on a recent decision by the governor to name Dan Skopec to the undersecretary position, arguing Skopec has a "pro-industry" bias. Skopec was named last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the role of Cal/EPA undersecretary and acting agency secretary by...

FLOREZ, ENVIRONMENTALISTS SEEK MOYER AUDIT TO IMPROVE PROGRAM

Troubled by the way air districts dole out hundreds of millions of dollars in grants to reduce diesel engine pollution, a leading senator is calling for a state audit of the program to expose weaknesses and identify actions for improvement. The request is being backed by environmentalists, who have also complained that the program has inequities and must be tightened to ensure consistency and fairness across the state. At issue is the Air Resources Board-administered Carl Moyer grant program, which...

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